The UEFA Europa League (UEL) is an annual European club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). It is regarded as the second most prestigious club tournament in Europe, ranking below the UEFA Champions League and above the UEFA Conference League.
The competition was established in 1971 as the UEFA Cup, replacing the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. In 2009, UEFA rebranded the tournament as the Europa League and introduced structural changes to enhance competitiveness and commercial value.
Clubs qualify based on their domestic league positions and cup performances. Additionally, some teams eliminated from the UEFA Champions League qualification rounds may enter the Europa League.
In its updated format, the competition features a 36-team league phase. Instead of traditional groups, all teams are placed in a single league table. Each club plays multiple matches against different opponents, typically both home and away. The top eight teams automatically advance to the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th compete in knockout play-offs for remaining spots.
The winner of the Europa League earns qualification for the next season’s UEFA Champions League and competes in the UEFA Super Cup against the Champions League winner.
Historically, 30 different clubs have won the tournament. Spanish clubs have achieved the most overall success, with Sevilla FC holding the record for the highest number of titles.
The Europa League plays a vital role in European football by offering international competition opportunities to clubs outside the Champions League elite while maintaining high competitive standards.